Sacramento Kings' Head Coach Paul Westphal released a statement Sunday saying that Kings player DeMarcus Cousins has demanded to be traded from the team.

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The second-year center did not play in Sunday night's 96-80 win over the New Orleans Hornets.

In his statement, Westphal said, "When a player continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team, it cannot be ignored indefinitely. In the best interest of our team as we go forward, he has been directed by me, with the support of management, to stay home from the New Orleans game tonight."

Cousin's agent, John Greig told KCRA 3's Chris Riva that DeMarcus has not demanded a trade and that he has not heard from the Kings.

Greig said he "has no idea what the Kings are doing" and didn't know the team excused him from Sunday's game until Westphal's announcement. Greig withheld any further comment.

The Kings drafted Cousins with the fifth overall pick in 2010 after he spent one season at Kentucky. The 21-year-old Cousins is averaging 13 points and 11 rebounds per game this season.

The Kings are preparing to embark on a two-game road trip in Memphis and Denver beginning Tuesday. It is unclear if Cousins will join the team.